Accessible Parking

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Many Albertans and visitors from outside of Alberta have Parking Placards for Persons with Disabilities. In Alberta, these placards are managed by Service Alberta, and are generally distributed to individuals who are unable to walk unassisted for more than 50 metres, and who need larger stalls to load and unload devices such as walkers and wheelchairs with unobstructed access to the curb.

The City of Edmonton has an important role to play in ensuring that drivers with Parking Placards for Persons with Disabilities have access and proximity to the services they need.

The Future of Accessible Parking

In the coming months, the City will be working with Edmonton’s Accessibility community, including the City of Edmonton’s Accessibility Advisory Committee to discuss ways that the City can improve accessibility and proximity for placard holders, including the impact the upcoming Automated Enforcement Program will have on placard holders.

As a part of this work, the City is currently in the process of identifying opportunities for immediate changes to increase the number of designated on-street accessible stalls, and explore technology options that enable placard holders to continue using courtesy parking in all EPark zones.

Join the Discussion

Contribute to the conversation about accessible parking, get involved in upcoming surveys, events and discussions.

The Accessible Parking Project Team will be at locations throughout the city in October and November as part of Engage Edmonton. We want to hear from Edmontonians who use designated accessible parking stalls. Where are designated stalls needed? What features do you need in a designated accessible parking stall? How long do you need to park for? Visit Engage Edmonton for a list of locations, dates and times that you can visit our booth.

Locations and Event Parking Region

Legend

Active Zone

Not Active

Tow Away Zone (hours of operation vary please check map)

Partial Tow Away Zone (hours of operation vary please check map)

Accessible Parking

Automated Enforcement Program and Accessible Parking Placard

Currently, parking patrol officers manually write parking tickets for those who haven’t paid for parking. The City of Edmonton is working towards automating this process in EPark zones using a digital camera system that captures licence plate images to validate if a vehicle’s parking is paid. Under the new system, parking tickets will be mailed, rather than left on a vehicle’s windshield.

Automated enforcement parking technology is a more efficient way of dealing with parking violations and will improve Parking Enforcement’s ability to respond to citizen complaints and provide higher levels of parking enforcement services around Commonwealth Stadium events, Rogers Place and in residential communities surrounding festivals. It will also free up parking enforcement officers to deal with other important parking issues in the city such as around school drop-off and pick-up zones, in front of businesses, at accessible parking spaces, in residential areas, during rush hour tow-away times and during seasonal snow parking bans.

Designated Accessible Parking Stall Violations

If your vehicle is parked illegally in a designated accessible parking stall, you will be issued a $250 ticket and may face towing and impound charges.

No part of the vehicle may occupy any part of the stall designated for drivers with a Service Alberta Parking Placard for People with Disabilities. The City of Edmonton has a "zero tolerance" policy for vehicles illegally parked in designated accessible parking stalls.

How to Apply

Residents

To request a accessible parking zone in front of your home, call 311. If you are not the property owner, you must provide written permission from the owner. There is no charge to install a accessible parking zone in front of a residence.

Note: The City will not install a parking zone if your residence has a driveway leading to the street.

Businesses

Property owners/managers for businesses, institutions and apartment complexes must submit a written request for a accessible parking zone to the City. Please include the address for the parking zone in the request. Businesses will be charged a fee for this service.

Private Property

The City does not provide accessible parking zones on private property. Contact the property owner to request accessible parking.

Awareness

I Was Only Running in for a Minute

We hear lots of excuses:

The parking lot was full.

I didn't see the sign.

It was raining.

My placard is expired - I haven't had time to renew.

But the truth is, there is no good reason to illegally park in an accessible stall.

Be Aware - Show You Care

Designated parking stalls are for those who are unable to walk unassisted for more than 50 metres - they are a necessity, not a privilege.

If you illegally use an accessible stall, individuals with disabilities may be forced to walk distances beyond restrictions that are specified by a medical practitioner, thus putting themselves at risk.